title: Dependent heroin use and associated risky behaviour: the role of rash impulsiveness and reward sensitivity.
abstract: Impulsive temperament has long been considered as a risk factor for substance use disorders (SUD). Considering the heterogeneity of impulsivity, a biologically-based 2-factor model incorporating reward sensitivity and rash impulsiveness facets, has been proposed. Here we report how these two facets of impulsiveness could be associated with different aspects of dependent heroin use and associated risky behaviour. Two hundred and ninety three dependent heroin users and 232 non-users were assessed on reward sensitivity, rash impulsivity, and the related trait of punishment sensitivity. After adjusting for multiple comparisons, heroin users were found to be more rash-impulsive and reward-sensitive than non-users (p<0.001). Within users, rash impulsivity was associated with high risk behaviour including escalating heroin consumption, injecting heroin use, hazardous drinking, low treatment-seeking and risky sexual behaviour. Reward sensitivity was uniquely associated with early onset of drug use. While greater impulsivity is a common trait in drug users compared with non-users, the use of a 2-factor model of impulsivity provides additional information regarding specific aspects of drug initiation and maintenance that can be targeted in the prevention and treatment of heroin dependence.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4215, Australia; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Lakal O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Dissabandara
authors.forename: Natalie J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Loxton
authors.forename: Shavindra R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daglish
authors.forename: Alfreda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stadlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012201:Reward; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013188:Sri Lanka; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Heroin dependence; Impulsivity; Personality; Reward